Treinta y Tres

Treinta y Tres is the capital city of the Treinta y Tres Department in eastern Uruguay. It is known for its role in the development of folk music.

History
Its name means "Thirty Three" and refers to the 19th-century national heroes, the 33 Orientales, who established the independence of Uruguay in 1825. Coincidentally, the city is located near the 33°S line of latitude, making the name doubly appropriate.

On 10 March 1853 it was declared a "Pueblo" (village) by the Act of Ley Nº 307 and on 20 September 1884 it was made capital of the department created by Ley Nº 1.754. According to the Act of Ley Nº 3.544, on 19 July 1909 it held the status of "Villa" (town), which was elevated to "Ciudad" (city) on 29 September 1915 by the Act of Ley 5.335.

Six years later, in 1859, the first school for children was inaugurated. Three years later, in 1862, the first school for girls began to operate.

The first trip that connects Treinta y Tres with Montevideo was made in 1861 by a stagecoach service, but only in 1866 did this service become permanent, also linking the city with Río Branco, Melo, and Nico Pérez. It was linked by railroad in 1912.

Population
In 2011, Treinta y Tres had a population of 25,477. It is by far the largest town in what is a sparsely populated department. Together with Ejido de Treinta y Tres and the southwestern suburb of Villa Sara, they form a population centre of around 33,000 inhabitants.

Economy
The economy of Treinta y Tres is based on livestock and derived products. Currently, rice is the main crop grown, flourishing among the city's many rivers. This activity has given a great boost to the region's economy, promoting the pre-cooked products industry and the installation of rice mills. In recent years, there has also been a significant boom in the cement and limestone industry.

Geography
The city is located on Route 8, on the north banks of Olimar Grande River. The city is almost surrounded by a populated rural area, a zone of chacras (ranches), known as Ejido de Treinta y Tres.

Climate
The climate in this area is characterized by hot, humid summers and generally mild to cool winters. According to the Köppen Climate Classification system, Treinta y Tres has a humid subtropical climate, abbreviated "Cfa" on climate maps.

Places of worship

 * St. Joseph the Worker Parish Church (Roman Catholic)
 * Parish Church of Our Lady of the Thirty-Three (Roman Catholic)
 * Parish Church of the Holy Savior (Roman Catholic)

Notable people

 * Emiliano Alfaro - footballer
 * Gonzalo Lemes - footballer
 * Darío Silva - footballer
 * Octavio Rivero - footballer